After experiencing frequent bouts of smog, the Chinese public has become increasingly sensitive to the health hazard. To address public concerns, the government aims to cut the density of inhalable particulate matter by at least 10 per cent in major cities by 2017, state run Xinhua news agency reported today.

The NMC also issued an alert for heavy fog in parts of Beijing, Tianjin, Hebei, Sichuan, Chongqing and Guizhou with visibility possibly reaching less than 200 meter.